I would be open to suggestions but specifically I'm thinking of buying 2 or 3 Stiller Predator actions as the basis for some customs. If we buy 6 actions they are $100 off, $650 instead of $750. Same general idea applies to Lilja or Hart barrels but the savings are, of course, less per barrel. I can handle the barrel end, but we need someone outside Texas with an FFL to order the actions to avoid having to pay Texas sales tax.

Note: I've never had any dealings with Stiller, I am just interested in their actions and assume they can deliver in a timely manner.

what do their actions look like never heard of one.

quote:

Originally posted by CRUSHER:
what do their actions look like never heard of one.

I was at Jerry Stiller's today. He makes a Remington clone. He makes Basner's receivers. They are a full CNC receiver with EDM raceways. The Predators are made of heat treated 416 stainless. It comes with a pinned recoil lug. He uses a tool steel bolt and the bolt handle is tig welded onto the bolt. The one shown by Vapodog is a magnum receiver. It has a Sako type bolt release.
Butch

The Predators are nice actions. I have a .308 built on one.



Serengeti builds a series of synthetic stocked rifles on these. With a guard screw torque of 45 in/lb, they claim all guns built such shoot sub .5 MOA.

- mike

Here's a link to a group buy from the Snipershide forum from last fall

http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/group-b...actions-625-or-less/

I would be interested in an action or maybe two.

Here's a link to their web site.

http://www.viperactions.com/

Stillers are great actions I have several. Good luck getting one though. Delivery in a timely fashion..................Well, not so much.
My gunsmiths shop is more or less in the same town as Stiller and cannot get actios, and he has a good relationship with them. I was in his shop two weeks ago and asked him how long it would take for two Predators and his reply was, "who knows...this fall" he is still waiting on actions he ordered last year.

Well, we've got a sliver of interest. I have a friend in Shreveport Louisiana who will handle the Stiller actions order for us for free (I think, I haven't confirmed this but am fairly certain). However, he isn't going to serve as the "banker". Shreveport is about 125 miles from me, but I have to go over there fairly often for business. I can handle the bookkeeping and order, but I'd be more than willing to let some reliable person out of Texas with an FFL handle it if they want to.

Same goes for some Lilja barrels, I want an octagon barrel and he sells them that way for $150 upcharge.

I'm going to call Stiller's next week and ask about delivery times.

I would be interested in an action but I need a little time, I will have to sell some stuff to raise the money. I just bought a 4 wheeler and spent all my rathole money. DW

It looks like that other group buy ended on 10/15/08, and they are a few weeks away from shipment right now.

I'd be interested in a PredatorX/TAC 338, and probably a short action Predator as well - depending on how many we can get it for the discount.

Have you talked to Lawton or Borden about what their discount structure looks like?

quote:

Originally posted by fireball168:
It looks like that other group buy ended on 10/15/08, and they are a few weeks away from shipment right now.

I'd be interested in a PredatorX/TAC 338, and probably a short action Predator as well - depending on how many we can get it for the discount.

Have you talked to Lawton or Borden about what their discount structure looks like?

To be honest I haven't talked to anyone about their discount structure. I'm not the world's greatest for cold calling people to start with. I came up with this brainstorm ( ) simply because I am seriously considering buying at least 2 and maybe 3 Stiller actions. Looking at their web site, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if I was going to buy 3 then getting somebody (ies) to buy 3 more would save us all a $100/action. Not the biggest deal in the world but it still buys a few hamburgers down here in Texas.

I am more than willing to have others chip in with information, ideas, or price structure of other smith's actions. I'm going to call Stiller tomorrow or as soon as I can get ahold of him and find out his approximate delivery lead time. If it's too long, then I am going to re-think my position. I'm not getting any younger and I'm sure not getting any more patient. In the meantime if you'd like to find out more info from any other smith, I'd be glad to hear it.

I would be interested in a Tac338. Jason

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

Originally posted by fireball168:
It looks like that other group buy ended on 10/15/08, and they are a few weeks away from shipment right now.

I'd be interested in a PredatorX/TAC 338, and probably a short action Predator as well - depending on how many we can get it for the discount.

Have you talked to Lawton or Borden about what their discount structure looks like?

To be honest I haven't talked to anyone about their discount structure. I'm not the world's greatest for cold calling people to start with. I came up with this brainstorm ( ) simply because I am seriously considering buying at least 2 and maybe 3 Stiller actions. Looking at their web site, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if I was going to buy 3 then getting somebody (ies) to buy 3 more would save us all a $100/action. Not the biggest deal in the world but it still buys a few hamburgers down here in Texas.

I am more than willing to have others chip in with information, ideas, or price structure of other smith's actions. I'm going to call Stiller tomorrow or as soon as I can get ahold of him and find out his approximate delivery lead time. If it's too long, then I am going to re-think my position. I'm not getting any younger and I'm sure not getting any more patient. In the meantime if you'd like to find out more info from any other smith, I'd be glad to hear it.

Gato,
If you had a complete set of tolerance drawings for an action this simple I think you would be surprised how little they would cost when purchased in quantities of 30 or more from a a modern production CNC shop.
The drawings would allow you to shop them around for quotes.

quote:

Gato,
If you had a complete set of tolerance drawings for an action this simple I think you would be surprised how little they would cost when purchased in quantities of 30 or more from a a modern production CNC shop.
The drawings would allow you to shop them around for quotes.

You may find yourself and the machine shop in a world of hurt if you try to have them manufacture a receiver if they are not a licensed gun maker.

At any rate, I would be interested in a Stiller Predator long action. PM me for details. I think it may be a problem if they all ship to different FFLs though.


John

ireload,
What is your point? Do you know what is involved in engineering drawings and among other things needed to be done before sending prints to a CNC shop? A quantity of 30 is a drop in the bucket for a cnc shop. To wired EDM the raceways will cost you a minimum of $100 ea. in quantities.
Stiller has 9 CNC machining centers, 1 CNC Bridgeport and a 12" throat wire EDM machine. He produces about 100 receivers a month.
You are really kidding yourself if you think you can take a set of prints to an CNC shop and expect to save any money. Do you also think that they would also want to go to the trouble to get a BATFE manufacturers license for 30 receivers?
Butch

Ireload,
My reply came off a little stronger than I intended. The facts remain though. I will add to that as you have to include choices of single shot, repeater, small bolt face, 308 boltface, magnum bolt face, long and short action.
Butch

I just got off the phone with Curtis Heltom, chief machinist at Stiller Actions. According to him, and he should know if anyone does, current delivery time on Predator actions is running 4 to 6 months and TAC actions are about a month longer. He expects that time frame to shorten up as the year progresses but, with all due respect, I've heard that tune before. It is more likely to lengthen in my experience.

In addition, I asked about whether the various actions could be drop shipped to different FFLs on a group purchase. "No," he said, "they all have to go to same FFL."

I hate to do this, since I'm the one who had this "brainstorm" to start with, but when you factor in the varying delivery time frame(s) for different types of actions, the problems of ordering different actions for other people and collecting their deposits/ final payment money, AND the fact that I would have to re-ship the actions to other group purchase members designated FFLs, thus adding to my time and problems (I hate shipping stuff PERIOD) and to the other person's bottom line expense in purchasing the action it just doesn't add up to enough savings to make it worth the work and potential problems. In short, I let my alligator mouth overload my hummingbird asshole and saving a few additional dollars per action is not worth the personal hassle factor. I apologize to all involved.

You are a smart man, Charlie.
Butch

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
ireload,
What is your point? Do you know what is involved in engineering drawings and among other things needed to be done before sending prints to a CNC shop? A quantity of 30 is a drop in the bucket for a cnc shop. To wired EDM the raceways will cost you a minimum of $100 ea. in quantities.
Stiller has 9 CNC machining centers, 1 CNC Bridgeport and a 12" throat wire EDM machine. He produces about 100 receivers a month.
You are really kidding yourself if you think you can take a set of prints to an CNC shop and expect to save any money. Do you also think that they would also want to go to the trouble to get a BATFE manufacturers license for 30 receivers?
Butch

I have been working on and with machined parts since 1968. Most of them far more difficult to make than any firearms parts. I have been in shops that could make receivers by the thousands per months. Race ways that run completely through a receiver can be broached in less than 5 minutes. A broach of that type probably is charged out at $90 per hour or less. That means it cost $7.50 or less to broach the race ways. The shop you describe could be lost in the corner of most of the shops I work with. And yeah I know a lot about engineering drawings.....

Ireload, I know that I stepped on your tail. They're a lot of shops that have the expertise, but you know as well as I do that they ain't gonna do 30 custom receivers for less than say a grand even. If that were so, where are all of these Mauser clones?
If I buy a Remington clone it ain't gonna have broached raceways. They will have wire EDM or I don't want it.
I started about 5 years before you in the machine shop, but that in itself is not an indication that I know more than you.
Sorry I was a little rough with you, but will stand on what I have said.
Butch

But, gentlemen, this IS an interesting point. If the economy goes south, could a shop not decide to do some work "on the side", so to speak, and produce just about everything except for some minor piece that makes it a firearm receiver. Could we see $300 brand new actions of spectacular quality?
Peter.